It’s hard to imagine what life must have been like even 50 years ago, where one would have to walk miles to get anywhere. Nowadays, cars are not only our main, accessible method of transportation, they’re also connecting to other parts of our lives. In fact, Gartner has predicted that by 2020, around 80% vehicles will be “connected cars,” connected to other vehicles, devices, and infrastructure.

However, while the term “connected car” may sound luxurious and futuristic, the reality isn’t all bright and sunny. Gartner also predicts that the connected car has potential to become an attack channel for hackers. There are various types of channels and they have varying consequences, as we show you in our infographic. It’s important to remember that for hackers, it’s not about the progressive development of a society – it’s simply a game to see who can score the most points, in the most ingenious way.

So how do you win the Connected Car game?

We can see from the sheer number of different channels there are of hacking a vehicle, simply “being careful” or relying on the manufacturer to have their security policies in order is not going to cut it. It’s time to take the game into your hands.

As the trend of connected cars grows, there will be a rise in the number of companies touting the quality of their security solutions. However, make sure that they’re ready and capable to grow along with the creativity of hackers, and that they have tried and tested solutions ready to go. This is a new technology, but look for companies that have years of knowledge on their toolbelt – after all, it’s not just data and information, it’s your life and safety on the line.

Read in detail about the different channels hackers may use – as well as the solutions that you should be looking for when securing your connected car. Download our full infographic here: